| Ruger Rifles & Carbines: a Long Gun Legacy | |
Page Two
It was not until 1968 that Ruger had a bolt-action rifle, the now-famous Model 77, and what an introduction it was. The bolt-action market is highly competitive, and the focus for more than a century has been on the two-lug front-locking design. With all the competition, shooter conservatism, and longevity with this action design, one would think it would not be easy to come up with something that is at the same time innovative, practical, and widely appealing, in terms of price as well as design and function. In typical Ruger style, however, the new bolt action had it all with new features no one else had thought of.
The
new Model 77 was a compact package of quality and aesthetics at a price that
most could afford. At the time other rifle manufacturers were leaning towards
gloss finishes and Monte Carlo cheekpieces for popular firearms. Ruger, instead,
introduced a rifle with a conservative, straight lined, handcheckered, walnut
stock without a cheekpiece. The stock had an oil finish, and it was fitted with
a brown rubber buttpad instead of one made from the usual black plastic.
Typical of Ruger’s advanced engineering, the Model 77’s receiver and bolt were investment cast, as were other major parts. Immediately apparent on the new rifle, aside from the tasteful lines, were the good-looking, functional, integral scope mount bases. Screws have been eliminated in Ruger’s scope mount bases; only the rings have screws.
The
forward action screw enters the base of the recoil lug at a 60-degree angle
so that tightening it pulls the receiver down and back into the stock, forcing
the lug tight against the recess. The forward action screw head is hidden beneath
a hinged floorplate. Unlatch the floorplate, swing it down, and you can see
a plate fitted into a stock recess. The plate is not only an escutcheon for
the forward screw, it also serves to retain the forward end of the magazine
box, and it contains the crosspin that is the floorplate hinge. The middle stock
screw is located under the rear portion of the floorplate immediately forward
of the trigger guard bow. The trigger guard plate where the forward screw passes
through also serves to retain the rear of the magazine box. This center screw
head is also hidden by the floorplate. When the floorplate is latched, only
the rear action screw is visible at the rear of the triggerguard bow.
The original Model 77 had a tang safety that connected to the trigger mechanism by a slender steel rod. In 1989 Ruger introduced the Model 77 Mark II with a redesigned trigger and safety that I think is one of the most positive systems ever designed. The finger lever on the safety is a fore-and-aft side-pivoting affair much like a Model 70 Winchester’s. However, this is where the similarity ends. The Ruger safety and trigger are unique. The safety locks not only the trigger and striker, but it also locks the striker visibly at the rear of the action. The trigger blocking mechanism is large and positive. I can’t imagine it ever breaking.
When
the safety is in the rearward position, the rifle is as safe as it can be made
to be with a safety. A glance is all it takes to see that the striker’s
movement is blocked by the interlocking safety lever. When the lever is in the
center position or perpendicular to the action, the bolt can be opened but the
trigger cannot be pulled. When the safety is in this position, a round can be
ejected from the chamber with the safety engaged. The forward position of the
safety lever is the “Fire” position.
Today, Ruger hammer forges its own barrels for Model 77 Mark II rifles, and the interior finish of these barrels is as good as I've seen on any production rifle. The bolt lugs are massive, and the receiver walls are thick. The bolt is one piece, including the operating handle. If you've ever had a bolt handle come off in your hand due to a spot of silver solder breaking loose, you will appreciate this feature. The Model 77’s time-proven Mauser claw extractor is as reliable as extractors get. The Ruger’s locking lug is not split, as on the Mauser Model 98. Both lugs on the Ruger retain all their integrity and strength, and the ejector contacts the cartridge head by way of a small slot in the underside of the bolt body.
The bolt body has a patented guide rib located midway along the bolt behind the left (action open) or top (action locked) locking lug. This guide rib is only an inch or so long and looks uncommonly good. Most shooters would never know it is a separate piece from the rest of the bolt body.
At the bottom of
the bolt body when the action is locked are three large gas escape ports, allowing
plenty of room to vent any high-pressure gas down into the magazine box in 
the
event of a ruptured cartridge case. When the bolt is withdrawn from the action,
the ports are located under the extractor alongside the bolt. Beside this is
a healthy flange at the rear of the lug raceways to block gases from coming
directly out the rear. The Model 77 has a very good gas-handling system.
The bolt release latch is located at the left side of the rear of the receiver, much like on a Mauser Model 98. The difference is that the latch does not also serve as the ejector as it does on the Mauser.
When the action is removed from the stock you can see that there is a large, flat bedding surface preferred by many shooters instead of a round one. After having rebarreled, stocked, and bedded 40 or 50 Model 77 Mark II rifles while working on my family of wildcat cartridges, I have developed a respect for the firearm and admiration for the design of each detail. When examined closely, it can be seen that every aspect of the Model 77 is a nearly perfect solution or mechanical application, and all these designs work together in an aesthetically pleasing whole.
Page One - 50
Years, .44 Mag carbine, 10/22, Mini-14, No. 1, No. 3, Model 96, Model 77 Variants,
Auto Carbines
Page Two - Model
77 - History & Design
Page Three -
Model
77 Mark II - Scope Mounts, Trigger, Grades, Current & All-Time Chamberings
This article was originally published in Shooting Times magazine in March, 1999.
